Nordzucker will cease sugar production at its Trenčianská Teplá plant in Slovakia after the 2025-2026 campaign. The site will remain in use as a distribution and logistics hub for Southeast Europe. With this move, the sugar producer is adjusting its European production structure in response to continued margin pressure, rising costs, and declining beet yields.
According to Nordzucker, the profitability of beet sugar production at the Slovakian factory has been declining for a long time. Results have been steadily deteriorating in recent years, partly due to rising production costs and a reduction in both the quantity and quality of available beets.
For beet growers in Slovakia, the decision means the end of local sugar beet processing. The additional investments required to further enhance the plant's sustainability no longer outweighed the return. The closure fits within Nordzucker's strategy. Fields for Growth, with which the group aims to reduce its cost structure and concentrate production at the most efficient locations. Steps have already been taken in Sweden (concentrating sugar production in Örtofta) and Germany (bundling liquid sugar in Nordstemmen).
According to Nordzucker CEO Lars Gorissen, the European sugar market is struggling with overcapacity and low margins, making tough decisions unavoidable. "We're making these decisions with an eye to the future and out of responsibility for the long-term stability and profitability of our company," Gorissen emphasizes.
Nordzucker's move demonstrates that sugar producers continue to critically evaluate their factory networks. In a market with high energy prices, stricter environmental regulations, and increasing climate uncertainty, the competitiveness of regions is becoming increasingly decisive.